Do I need insurance if I have my online personal training client sign a release of liability and informed consent prior to working with me?
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Do I need insurance if I have my online personal training client sign a release of liability and informed consent prior to working with me?
I am starting an online personal training business and am wondering if
insurance is necessary to protect me if I still have the client sign
the correct documents. Also, which documents specifically I should
have my client sign.
Asked on February 5, 2017 under Business Law, Hawaii
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, you definitely need insurance. A release, etc. can protect from the normal injuries incident upon or coming from proper training, and so is certainly helpful, but it does not protect you if you do anything wrong. So it will protect you if someone is doing the right exercises for their level of fitness and you instructed them how to do it correctly, but they still pulled, tore, etc. something. But it does not protect you from your own mistakes or errors. So, say that you have a client do a stretch or exercise that is too advanced for them and should not be done at their level of conditioning, or that you erred in your instructions on how to do the exercises: because you were negligent, or careless, in the training, you could still be sued, despite the release. Releases protect from the inevitable injuries that people get from sports or athletic activities even even when done right, but does not protect from leading people to do them wrong or to do the wrong exercises.
So yes: have clients sign releases. And get insurance--speak to a reputable insurance broker about what you need. And also form an LLC or limited liability company and conduct the business through it: that will further help protect your personal assets (e.g. money in the bank; home; car) from business (online training) related suits or other debts.
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